Spotify launched in South Africa at R60/month

Getty Images

Beatrice Douglas
|
13 March, 2018, 11:16

Apple's Apple Music streaming service, which has been No. 2 in USA subscribers behind Spotify AB, is quickly gaining ground against its rival and may overtake it this summer. Whereas Apple Music is now growing by 5% every month, Spotify is said to be growing it subscriber base by about 2% every month.

Founded in 2006 by Ek and Martin Lorentzon in the staid Stockholm suburb of Ragsved, the firm now has 71 million paying customers worldwide, twice that of closest rival Apple Music.

Its music streaming market is dominated by players such as Apple Music, Google Play, France's Deezer and Simfy Africa, with only a few local operators such as mobile phone operator's MTN and Cell C with MTN Music+ and Black.

That suggests the company will need to use its clout to strike more lucrative deals in the coming years if it wants to turn a profit from a growing subscriber base as it battles Apple, Amazon.com Inc and Google.

Apple said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of internet software and services, disclosed the most recent subscriber number for Apple Music at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Amazon offers its service to members who already pay for its Prime membership, which includes shipping, video content and other benefits, for USD7.99 per month.

Almost 60 percent of Spotify's monthly users were ad-supported subscribers in 2017.

"We are always testing new products and experiences, but have no further news to share at this time", said a spokesperson from Spotify when Music Ally contacted the company for more details.

In addition to its paid service, Spotify also offers an free ad-supported version to help draw users into the service.

Recommended

A website associated with Iran state TV quoted an emergency official as confirming that the crash killed all 11 people on board. Turkish media earlier reported that Basaran's daughter and seven of her friends were returning from a hen party in Dubai.

You need 24 or 25 players with the same objective - to fight for the team and help the team when the gaffer calls on them". Spurs got the better of Bournemouth 4-1 away from home at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday evening.

Real Madrid have closed the gap on second-placed Atletico Madrid with a hard-fought 2-1 win in Saturday's La Liga clash at Eibar . Lucas Vazquez and Karim Benzema replaced Isco and Toni Kroos as Zidane looked to raise the tempo and find a second goal.

The JD (S) will have the hard choice of backing its own candidate or voting for a Vokkaliga, its main support base. The Congress's decision to field a candidate in Telangana is surprising as it is in not a position to win a seat.

The anti-establishment former head of Breitbart News has repeatedly expressed support for Europe's far right movements. Bannon said he agreed with Le Pen's expressed belief that "it is not about left versus right".

Dumervil, 34, was set to receive a $500,000 roster bonus on Tuesday and would have carried a $4.25 million cap hit in 2018. Releasing Sherman, who spent seven seasons with the team, saves the team $11 million against the 2018 salary cap.

Bowden missed a three on the next possession and Kentucky raced the other way where Gabriel put up a three that was off the mark. Tennessee made 11 of its first 12 shots from the field and shot a torrid 76% (19-for-25) in building a 48-29 halftime cushion.

Trump derisively refers to Warren as "Pocahontas" to mock her claim about being part American Indian. "I know who I am". Despite winning the 2012 election, Warren has continued to address questions raised about her heritage in 2018.

The US has been very critical of both Kenyatta and Odinga, Soi noted. "And, hopefully we can progress from this". Alfred Mutua has issued a warning following the meeting between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Trump blocks Broadcom takeover of Qualcomm
At least a half-dozen technology deals have collapsed during the Trump administration in the face of concerns raised by CFIUS. Nearly every major business and consumer electronics manufacturer uses Qualcomm's technology as brains for their devices.

NMSU confident going into NCAA Tournament vs. Clemson
Jans did not know much about Clemson on Sunday, but, obviously, the work on scouting the Tigers begins right away. Villanova faced LIU Brooklyn in the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and came out with a win by a final of 101-91.

Man's severed leg used as pillow in Jhansi hospital
They also claimed that it was the doctors that put it there and they didn't give him a real pillow for another two hours. He lost the leg in the accident on Saturday, and was brought to the hospital in a critical condition.

Elon Musk wants to preserve humanity in space
"I think we will be able to do short flights, short up and down flights, probably in the first half of next year". It was Musk's long-range plan for sending settlers to Mars that took up most of the attention.

Farmers' march to reach Mumbai on Monday
The last one year has been tough on Ankush Raotovar, a 55-year-old farmer from Marathwada's Parbhani district. Importantly, the budget session of the state legislature is underway.

Google Doodle: the Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang
In the biathlon, the USA took gold and silver in the women's sit ski, with Kendall Gretsch coming first and Oksana Masters second. North Korea had wanted to use a version of the Korean peninsula flag that includes islands disputed with Japan.

Richard Sherman thanks fans for support after release
Sherman expects to be ready for the regular season but could be limit in August for training camp and parts of the preseason. We love you and your unwavering competitiveness, confidence and fierce passion for football and life.

Meghan Markle in J Crew coat for Birmingham away day
She's consistently proven to be the most outspoken, going-against-tradition type this generation of the royal family has seen. The royal couple received a huge round of applause from the 90 female students as they made their way to their next event.

Syria Army Continues to Make Gains against Militants in Ghouta
In rebel fire on Friday, a woman and a child were killed by a mortar round that hit the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, SANA said. The Syrian government has reportedly captured the central town of Misraba, and advanced onwards into surrounding farmland.